Tag: ManV. Nature

There’s nothing that brings out my inner child more than dinosaurs. I want it all from facts and stories to pictures and movies; something about the species from millions of years ago is beyond interesting. Before humans were running rampant the world was a pretty crazy place full of pretty crazy creatures.

Image Via Amazon UK

We basically know what the world looked like before us two-legged folks were present. However, paleontologist Dougal Dixon’s 1981 book After Man: A Zoology of the Futuregives us a look into what our planet’s creatures would look like if we became extinct (sort of). It’s a scary thought indeed, but the book is now released in a new edition with more images. Now, what’s hard to imagine is actually pretty damn cool. Dixon recently sat down to speak with The Verge about what he wants people to know about his book thirty years later. He explains that he doesn’t want this book to be another gloomy prediction for the world; it’s something different.

It’s not about the extinction of man, it’s not a doom-laden thing… It’s showing that life goes on and it doesn’t matter how much damage we do. The Earth will survive and will be repopulated. It’s a note of positivity rather than a note of gloom.

Dixon continues to explain how he got this idea in the first place. He recalls a time when conservationists were urging everyone to help save tigers from extinction. While most people were fighting for the cause, Dixon’s father had a different point of view:

‘Why the save the tiger? If the tiger becomes extinct, something will evolve to take its place. That’s how evolution works.’ And I thought at the time, that’s a very unconstructive attitude. As time went, studying biology, I realized that was actually the case. Things become extinct, other things evolve to take their place. So I used to think about what animal life might be like in the future.

I feel like, in a way, Dixon creates a valid point. Should humans step in or should nature take its course? Check out the images below of what could be if we weren’t around to step in:

Nothing breaks my heart quite like hearing about the incredible animals on this planet that have to suffer by the hands of man. From endangered to extinct, these creatures that have been here long before us need to be heard before it’s all too late. That’s where Tim Flach comes in.

In his new book, Endangered, Flach photographs several species that face the perils of a threatened ecosystem. From deep within the coral reef to the hot dunes of the desert, from the bitter cold tundra to the tropical dewy rainforest, we see it all. Flach gives us a head-on view of the living things that face the most troubles and downfalls. Expert zoologist Jonathan Baillie documents each animal in detail so we can get the full story of their origin.

Take a look at some of them below. I will say this: they are the most beautiful faces I’ve seen in a long time.

Crowned sifika lemur /Image Via People

Saiga antelope / Image Via People

Pied tamarin / Image Via People

White-bellied pangolin / Image Via People

Beluga sturgeon / Image Via People

Egyptian vulture / Image Via People

Yunan snub-nosed monkey / Image Via People

Sea angels / Image Via People

If you think these are absolutely wondrous, you should buy Endangered and see the rest of the 180 species that need our help. Maybe one day they can have a life that’s as beautiful as they are.

Site links

About Us

Bookstr connects books with people. We make discovering books entertaining, informative, and socially engaging. And most importantly, we believe that the best recommendations come from people you know and trust.

Newsletter Subscription

If you want to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please submit the form below.